Improvement in machines for straightening heavy metal bars



I the yoke to move in.

UNITED STATES 1 ATENT GFBICE. c.

Isaac B4. Hows, oF NoRrrmmLD, VER-MONT.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR STRAIGHTENING HEAVY METAL BARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,098, dated December 19, 1854.

.T0 all whom t may cm1/cern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC B. HOWE, of Northfield, in the county of Vashington and State of Vermont, have invented a new or Improved Machine for Straightening or Bend-- ing I-Ieavy Bars of Metal, and particularly railroad-bars when laid in a track; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specilication screw to be hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken throughthc yoke. Fig. l is a transverse section, wherein is exhibited the manner in which the machine is applied to a rail for the purpose of removing.

a lateral bend or exure.

In the above-mentioned drawings, A denotes a screw, which n practice may be constructed about two inches in diameter and two feet in length and having a thread cut upon it for about ten inches from its head downward. This screw operates in a female Screw 0^, that is fastened to the main beam or timber B by means ot' a fork and a connection G, extended through the lower part of the same, as seen in Fig. 2. The'screw-rod should be carried through the timber B and the said connection G and be made to rest on a bearer H, placed upon the top surface of a rail. The said timber B may be made about six feet in length and tive inches in thickness. For convenience of handling it, as well as for decreasing its weigh t, it may be grooved outon each of its sides, as seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The groove on one side also serves for the reception of the head of the partD of The said yoke is composed of two parts or stirrups c d, (see Figs. l and 3,) one of which is placed on and made to embrace the beam B, while the other is made to extend underneath the rail I and to be locked to the part C, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. The

beam or lever B is provided with a movable fulcrum F. It is made to slide upon an iron bar L, that is fastened to the under side of the lever B. The said lever may also be provided with another such bar of metal fixed toits upper surface, as seen at M. When the instrument is applied to the rail in such manner as is exhibited by Fig. 4, small bearers K K may be adapted to the opposite sides of the rail, the stirrup d and the fulcrum F being made to rest against such bearers.

In using the above-described machine it is to be arranged over the rail and so that the middle of the bar B shall be over the flexure, while the fulcrum, screw, andthe yoke are disposed with respect to said exure, as seen in Fig. 1. yoke d may be drawn up against the rail with power sufficient to remove the bend there- I from. It will be evident that if when the fulcrum is adjusted between the yoke and the screw and the screw so applied to the lever and the rail as to enablea person to depress the lever a an upward bend of the rail may easily be removed.

I am fully aware of the nature of the machine for straightening rails for which Letters Patent were granted to George Villiston on November 1, A. D. 1853, such machine being a combination of a screw, strap, beam, and slides, the screw and strap being disposed in the middle of the beam, which, by bearers at its two ends, is to be supported on the rail when removing a tlexure, though such machine is very different from mine, as Iemploy a combination of a lever and screw and apply both in afmanner entirely different from that in which the rest-beam and screw of said lVillistons invention is made to operate, my invention enabling me to obtain at least twice and often four times the power that can be obtained from a screw made to operate through the middle of a rest-beam and withv` out the additional power gained by employing said rest-beam as a lever. Besides, with my invention I can readily increase or diminish the power of the lever as circumstances may require.

I do not claim the combination of a screw, strap, beam, and slides as arranged, constructed, and made to operate as described in thesaid patent of the said lVilliston; but

Vhat I do claim is- By turning down the screw A the The combination of :Liever-beam, sliding fulcrnm, operating-screw, and sliding yoke or holdfast as constructed and made to operate as specified, whereby I am enabled to obtain the advantage of leverage, in combination with a screw-power for bending the rail when the machine is applied thereto, as Stated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 23d day of October, A. D. 1854.

,ISAAC B. HOVE.

YVitnesses:

HEMAN CARPENTER, W. F. WooDWoRTH. 

